Through a mix of traditional and digital marketing experiences, advisory and hands on work in multiple verticals, and a mix of techno-geek and strategic thinker, I take the broad view on what trends mean, and make them relevant to CMOs. Follow me on Twitter @minicooper, or circle me on Google+.

The Digital Serendipity of New York City, Cory Booker and Disruption Of Television Video

Serendipity is such a great word, and so much fun to experience. While 2012 was a year many would like to forget (I won’t go into detail on my own 2012 travails, but I am happy the year is behind us), 2013 is already shaping up quite well. For those who follow me on twitter (@minicooper) you probably know that in the past two weeks I went to the Super Bowl (so I can strike that off the bucket list) and met Cory Booker, who is a politico on the rise and a digital instigator in ways I got to know first hand.

While in New Orleans, I gave a speech to the digital side of a number of TV broadcasters and distributors. My speech focused on the 5 major trends that will disrupt the TV business.

1. New currencies will shake up video consumption measurement. Set-top and over-the-top boxes are gaining audience, and Nielsen just announced that they are going to adjust their definition of TV viewing to account for eyeballs glued to new screens and access methods.

2. Attention fragmentation continues unabated. Multi-screen viewing is popular — 84% of Gen Z consumers are online while the TV is on in the background.

3. Bypass options gain stature and controversy. Boxee, Apple TV, Xbox — the list of ways to get around traditional distribution keeps growing. Aereo, Barry Diller‘s new broadcast signal distributor, is surviving early rounds of lawsuits from the networks.

5. Ad targeting brings new revenue opportunities. Good news: One unit of inventory in today’s lightly targeted world can work harder in a targeted video world. More targeting at a higher CPM should lift linear and digital video revenues alike.

The serendipity came to a head when I attended a breakfast with Newark, NJ mayor Cory Booker. He and his co-founders at #waywire invited me to hear about how their business has evolved (full disclosure, I run occasionaly with the CEO and CTO), and the disruptive force that digital media has become on how people find, view, and engage in video content. One great quote from Cory was this: “Digital empowers people who have a hunger to discover content and affect the discussion.” He was referring to issues like food stamp programs and the political discourse. I think he was saying that when you can look someone in the digital eyes, you have a much better sense of what they actually said and what they meant. When citizens can find videos on the issues they care about, they can disrupt and redirect political discourse that has been distilled by just a few media players in the past few years.

After leaving the breakfast, I met with a round of CMOs, as I get to do a lot these days. Digital Disruption, as outlined by Forrester’s James McQuivey in his book of the same name due out February 26, was the theme of an event about how digital consumer behavior is upending the traditional marketing mechanisms, and the business models that ensue. From a trip to the Super Bowl to meeting a candidate for US Senate, it has been a great few weeks of serendipity, with digital disruption as a theme that kept resurfacing.

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